Education Division Standards (Prior to Fall 2006)

A. Student Learning

The practitioner understands how students learn and develop, and provides learning opportunities that

support intellectual, career, social, and personal development.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Understand the physical, emotional, social and educational development of students?

___ Design instruction and assessment based on the students with whom you work?

___ Design and teach lessons using a variety of instructional and evaluation techniques?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

A test or paper demonstrating your knowledge of human growth and development (work from Life Span Psychology)
A paper or project in which you apply one or more theories of psychology to education (work from Education Psychology)
Student Teaching Artifact – Statement and evidence of how you developed a unit to meet students’ educational and developmental needs

B. Diverse Learners

The practitioner understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are equitable and are adaptable to diverse learners.

Do your artifacts show that you:

___ Possess knowledge of student diversity - including exceptionality, gender, class, race, ethnicity, language, religion, and level of social, emotional, and academic ability?

___ Are able to design instruction to accommodate a variety of student needs?

___ Can establish a positive culture for learning and create an environment of respect and rapport?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

A lesson plan from a classroom management or special education course that includes accommodations for students with academic disabilities
A series of lesson plans (at least 5 days) that show your ability to differentiate instruction to accommodate students with diverse educational needs and learning styles (lesson plan developed in Human Relations for Teachers)
Student Teaching Artifact – A statement and evidence of the ways the unit accommodates students with varied learning styles and needs

C. Instructional Planning

The practitioner plans instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, curriculum goals, and state curriculum models.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Support national, state, and/or local benchmarks and curriculum standards?

___ Plan instruction to accommodate a variety of learners?

___ Plan and execute lessons that reflect local culture?

___ Design and use multiple instructional and evaluation techniques?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Daily Lesson Plan
Unit Plan
Student Teaching Artifact – Submission of the entire unit plan, including reflection on the teaching of the covered material

D. Instructional Strategies

The practitioner understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving, and performance skills.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Use a variety of instructional strategies in lesson delivery?

___ Plan, deliver, and revise lessons?

___ Design instruction based on multiple levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Early Field Experience – Time sheet, teacher evaluation, observation notes, and final reflective paper
Lesson plan, self reflection, and formal evaluation of a lesson that was taught during your block or secondary methods field experience
Student Teaching Artifact – Videotape a lesson in which at least three different teaching strategies are used. Describe and reflect on these strategies. This videotape will also be used in Standard H.

E. Learning Environment

The practitioner uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Design a classroom that promotes active and effective student learning?

___ Use varied classroom management techniques and motivational strategies?

___ Demonstrate various methods of organizing students for instruction?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Classroom floor plan with key
Classroom management technique or plan that demonstrates your ability to create a positive learning environment (cooperative learning, token economy, activity centers or stations, etc.)
Student Teaching Artifact – Include a photo collage and description of how the classroom environment was used or changed to complement the teaching of the unit.

F. Communication

The practitioner uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques, and other forms of symbolic representation, to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and support interaction in the classroom.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Communicate clearly and accurately, orally and in writing?

___ Communicate using a variety of techniques and media?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Class presentation – including any visual aids, media, videotaped lesson, etc; written lesson plans; and a reflective statement on the style of communication used.
A non-verbal communication tool that you have developed (instructional bulletin board, learning center, etc.)
Student Teaching Artifact – List (or highlight) the various communication techniques used to facilitate this lesson and describe the purpose of each.

G. Assessment

The practitioner understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the learner.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Design effective and appropriate assessment tools and strategies?

___ Interpret the results of formal and informal tests and alternative assessments?

___ Collect data for the purpose of assessment?

___ Design and modify instruction based on assessment?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Student developed formal assessment instrument with a statement of how the instrument can be used to facilitate instruction (test, summative evaluation, etc.)

Student use of a standardized, norm referenced test – evidence of test administration, scoring, and a statement of how the results can be used to influence instruction (Key Math, PIAT, etc.)
Student developed alternative assessment instrument or technique (rubric, checklist, portfolio, project, etc.)
Student Teaching Artifact – Include the assessment strategies and data used during the facilitation of the unit. This should encompass daily assessment as well as some type of “end of unit” assessment.

H. Foundations, Reflection, and Professional Development

The practitioner continually evaluates the effects of the practitioner’s choices and actions on students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community, and actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.

Do your artifacts show that you:

___ Attend and participate in professional development opportunities?

___ Reflect on field work completed in area schools?

___ Use professional resources to improve your teaching?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Documented membership in a professional organization with reflection on merits of membership, conference attendance, presentations, etc.
Reflective journal and notes from a field experience in which you planned and provided instruction to students
Student Teaching Artifact – Provide evidence that feedback on the planning and presentation of the unit is meaningful and reflective. You and your cooperating teacher should view the videotape you made (see Standard D) followed by a discussion of teaching behaviors. In addition, you should provide evidence that students have had an opportunity to evaluate the unit and your teaching performance.

I. Collaboration, Ethics, and Relationships

The practitioner fosters relationships with parents, school colleagues, and organizations in the larger community to support students’ learning and development.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Use community resources to supplement and improve instruction?

___ Actively involve caregivers in educational programs and activities?

___ Collaborate with colleagues to improve instruction?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Volunteer or work experience with community youth. You should detail your experience, include documentation of the time you spent in the experience, and a reflective piece on collaboration, ethics, and relationships during the experience
Written communication with caregivers (newsletter, take home activity, informational letter, etc.)
Student Teaching Artifact – Evidence of collaboration with individuals outside the classroom for the purpose of improving the quality of the unit.

J. Computer Technology Related to Instruction

The practitioner uses computer technology to plan, support, and enhance instruction.

Do your artifacts show that you are able to:

___ Use computer technology to produce instructional materials?

___ Use computer technology to implement instruction?

___ Use Internet resources to plan and facilitate instruction?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

A computer generated presentation (PowerPoint, HyperStudio, etc.)
Use of software or the Internet to plan instruction
Student Teaching Artifact – Inclusion of computer generated materials and documentation of other educational technology used in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of the unit.

K. Subject Matter Knowledge

The practitioner understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structure of the discipline(s) that he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.

Do your artifacts show that you:

___ Possess subject knowledge of your academic major and/or area(s) of concentration?

___ Are able to plan effective and meaningful lessons in your discipline(s)?

___ Have knowledge of, and are able to use, national professional curriculum standards for your major area(s) of study?

Your portfolio should contain the following artifacts:

Elementary Education Majors

Integrated Unit or Project
Three pieces of work that demonstrate your knowledge of special education, reading, and/or ESL
Student Teaching Artifact – Evidence of the ways that national and local curriculum standards were met during the teaching of this unit.

Secondary Education Students

Diverse selection of tests and/or alternative assessments from three classes in your major area of study
Unit in your subject area – developed during Special Methods
Student Teaching Artifact– Evidence of the ways that national and local curriculum standards were met during the teaching of this unit.